SALVATION chapter 4

Salvation
Chapter 4

San Diego, California

The woman startled him..
What she saw in that first few seconds was the unmasked wonder of a boy
in the grip of discovery..She liked it.
Then, as the man within the boy emerged, the eyes narrowed, taking her in..
"I am sorry"...Nick said embarrassed..."I didn't see you...Where did you come from?"
"Oh."..She turned a perfect oval face and pointed down the dirt road.."Just over there."
Her chestnut hair caught the dusk and colors of sunset..
She looked back at him again smiling."The green store?"

"Oh yeah"..He felt himself relax as the rational relativity of her appearance fell into place..
The establishment she referred to was a combination liquor & grocery just at the 94 highway.
A half city block from them.
"The green store" he nodded allowing his gaze to rest on her again..
A quarter of his awareness registered she was wearing riding gear..
A miniature version of his leather jacket. Black riding chaps over blue jeans, and motorcycle boots..
The other three quarters of him was lost in eyes, lips, and dimples of that smile.

It was right here in these first split seconds of silence.
When a man and woman first meet.
Nick had learned a great deal about himself, and the kind of woman he chose over the years.
Something that was the core of Nicolaus Flannery surfaced at these moments..
It was not the makings of conscience decision.
But a distinct wisdom of direction dictated by the soul.
An essence of being that from time to time, stepped in.
Cutting a decisive course at a fork in a road.

Nick's soul dictated silence..And in that silence he waited as he had done so many times before.
It was a moment of truth that, more often then not, resulted in separation..
The woman searched his eyes in that silence.
It didn't occur to her to step back.
She simply stepped forward.
Raising her hand for him to take.
In that gesture, she created a bridge.
In the eyes of Nicolaus Flannery, that act of creation changed her forever.
From a woman..To a goddess.
"Hi, I am Michelle."
He took her hand softly..absorbing it's warmth.
"Nick Flannery", he smiled.
"I know" she said..It was her turn to feel embarrassed..
"I mean, I saw you guys play..At the Crypt..About a month ago?"
He remembered. " Oh yeah, the one in Orange."
She laughed.."Dirt parking lot?..And "Bob", the three hundred pound bouncer?"
He chuckled, "Yep, that's the place!"..
"I play in a band too"..
"Really?"
She touched his arm.."I like how you guy's sound by the way."
"I am glad" he said..
She laughed.."Anyway, I didn't see you between the set, but I talked to, Toby?"
"Yeah."
"He was telling me about where you guys are from and about this rehearsal studio of yours."
"Right..You really play in a band?"
"Yeah."
"I think that's, wonderful!"
"Yeah..
So, I ride with this club, and we get down this way sometimes..Like, today!"
She laughed.."I remembered Toby saying it was in this railroad museum..
I wanted to check out this amazing studio for myself!."
"I am glad you did..It's more primitive than amazing though."
"I think it's cool!"
"Come on, I'll show it to you." He indicated for her to walk up the steps ahead of him.
"Nick?"
"Michelle?"
She smiled.."You think I should go get my bike?"
"Oh..Yeah..Just a second." He stepped inside the studio and grabbed his helmet.
"I'll give you a lift over there.."
"You ride too" she said.
"Yeah."
"I think that's wonderful."
"Yeah."


Los Angeles, California

"Tap, tap, tap"
"That's it!" Herman screamed at the door. "That's fucking it!"
He was crying, sniffling, wiping snot on the sleeve of his shirt as he approached the door.
Amazed himself at the level of rage he was still capable of.
He kicked the flattened writing table and phone set out of his way..
"That's it!...I am coming mother fucker!"...
He twist the door nob yanking the door.."You are so fucking lucky I don't have a gun, fucko'!"

A beautiful, young, sensual woman stood in the doorway.
She strutted into the apartment full of sexual confidence.
"Got a drink, big boy?"
Herman hung his head out the doorway expecting someone else to enter also, but then realized the
woman was alone.
He closed the door.."A drink?...Ah, yeah.." Pointing to the kitchen.."Right through there."
The woman winked then disappeared into the kitchen..
Herman could hear the sound of ice cubes and glasses..
"You'll have one with me Herm?" She spoke up so he could hear her from the next room, but her voice
retained a sultry texture to it.
Herman sat on the couch.
A moment later she returned with two glasses of gin and tonic on the rocks.
"It is Herm...right?" She handed him a glass.
Still standing she downed her's in one gulp.
"Yeah..Yeah it's Herm." He answered.
"Great"..She winked at him again then proceeded to the kitchen mixing another drink..
"So, Herm....You, called?"
He was scattered, confused, just beginning to regain some steadfast of mind.
"Called?..Well, yes..Originally...On the phone."
He sucked on the gin, felt the warm glow hit his stomach and continued..
"Yeah, on the phone I spoke to a man.."
He could hear the gin and tonic hitting the glass as she poured.
"Would you have preferred me a man?" She called out.
He relaxed a little reflecting on her pert upturned breasts. Settling into the couch, crossing his legs.
"No, no..That's not what I mean..I was just expecting a man, I guess."

"Cause, I can do a man, Herm."
Herman's eyes snapped up..It was a man's voice, and it was definitely a man who just walked out of the kitchen.
He wore a zoot suit and over sized fedora..He stood, towering over Herman.
Stirring at a glass of gin with a cocktail umbrella.
"I can do a man like nobody can!"
Herman squealed, "Whoa!"... slamming the gin down his throat.."How did you..?

"Cut the chit chat Herm!" The man interrupted.."Let's get down to business..I repeat...You called?"
He slid down on the sofa next to Herman whispering in his ear.
"So..Entertain me...Freak."
Herman jumped.."Ok..so, alright.. You want to hear the demo right?"..
The man, pulled out a pocket watch.."You've got three minutes Herm..And this better be good..
Cause if I get bored"..He pointed at the floor.."I'll drag your ass down stairs..Hang you on a meat hook till some friends of mine show up for lunch!"

Herman stammered making his way toward the bedroom. "The stereo is in there..I'll turn it up loud."
He slipped in the demo cd of the single "King of the World" his band "MENACE" had finished last week.
Then forced himself to return to the couch.
"My band" he said as the music started.

MENACE music was hard core metal rock. Herman's high pitched guttural vocals sliced through the
heavy bass lines complimenting consistent second octave lightning fast guitar rifts..
All of it riding gigantic sound waves of unbelievable one hundred fifty beat per minute monster percussion.
When the song ended, the air still rippled and shuttered through out the apartment like a series of after shocks.

"Well, what do you think?" Herman asked the man..He couldn't help himself..He was confident..He loved his music and he knew it was good.
The man stood up and turned to Herman..
His eyes were black coal.. Slack Lips slid back into eternity..
A gateway to hell lined with metallic spikes..
Shrewd razors that might in another world, be associated with teeth.

"What do I think?"..He advanced..A great gaping jaw expiring the breath of doom lingered inches from Herman's face..
"What do I think?" It screamed.."My ears are ringing!..My head is throbbing!..That music stinks!..Your
vocals suck!..And, I think I am going to be.."
He vomited...Green gobs of chunky puke covered Herman's head and face..It stuck and slipped it's way down his jaws and chin dripping thick stew....."Sick!"...
Herman rolled off the couch a gagged maggot.."Oh God!..Oh, God, oh God!"...
The man moved quickly.
Grabbing the back of Herman's head, forcing him down to his elbows and knees.
Then kneeling and kicking Herman's knees apart, began dry humping him while speaking seductively to his left ear..
"It's exciting stuff Herm!..Right up my alley!...Yeah!...Yeah, get it baby, get it!"
Completely helpless Herman only moaned "Oh, God!"

"What?"...What the fuck did you say?"
Disgusted, pushing it's self off Herman It stood and thundered.."God has nothing to do with this!''
It stood a moment straightening the zoot suit, turned and headed for the kitchen.
"I need a fucking drink."
Herman slowly drug up to his knees.

A seventy year old obese woman emerged from the kitchen.
She wore black and red lingerie while sporting a tall boy glass of booze and ice.
"Oh, there you are you silly, boy!"..She giggled and swigged.."Come on now, up and at them eh?
You want to be rich and famous don't you Hermie?..Time is money, and idleness a sin."
She swaggered, downing her drink then threw the empty glass shattering it against a wall..
"Whee!"..She shrieked in joy then danced giddily..
Rolls of fat shivered and quivered keeping time with flaccid arm flab.
"I don't know..I don't know, I just love doing that!"
Herman stared at the spectacle in bewilderment.
She advanced toward him seductively running her hands over a cellulite infested body.
"Oh baby!...You look good!..Uh huh...Your going to go far with that body!"
She took a wide stance directly in front of him.
Reaching down she grabbing the front of his shirt and yanked him to a standing position..
His arms were slack, waving at his sides like a rag doll subject to a stiff breeze..
She held him close gyrating against him..Cupping his crotch in her left hand..
"Yeah baby..Your going to be,...in there!"
Taking Herman's left hand she held it to her right breast slowly rotating.
"Yeah, oh yeah baby that's the spot!"
She reached up slowly massaging his hair, then grabbed it with both fists..
"First we got some business to take car of."
Forcing his head down between her enormous cleavage she giggled and squirmed..
"Contract!"...You see the contract, baby?"
She lifted his head allowing him to breath..
"I...Yes, I."...He responded like a puppet..
"Good!" She giggled pulling his head back down.."Good, good, good!"
"Get it baby!...Get it!"..With your teeth!" Pull it out nice, with your teeth."
Herman obliged.
Slowly she lifted his head with the contract papers clinging in his jaws.
Moaning and riving ecstasy as the paper slipped between her breasts..
"Oh, oh, oh!..Yeah, yeah, disco biscuit honey!"..
She tore the contract from his mouth.
Grabbed his buns pulling him hard..Grinding her hips..Whispering in his ear.
"Oh baby!...Was it good for you too?" She giggled releasing him and sank herself on the couch.
Laying the contract papers on the coffee table she lit a smoke..
"All that's left is the signing" she grinned..
Herman move in slow motion. Staring at the paper work staring back at him.
She shook a finger at him coyly. "Don't you disappoint me now."
He pointed to the bedroom.."I..I have to find a pen."
The old woman suddenly looked disqusted. She stamped out the cigarette on the floor.
"No, no, no you idiot!" She leaped up pounding him on his back. Herman fell sprawled over the coffee table.
"Don't you know anything?"...In blood!...It's got to be signed in blood!"
With his back to her she attacked..
Spreading her legs she straddled him sinking her teeth into the base of his neck..
Herman screamed and the scream built as she tore a chunk of flesh away..Spitting it to the foor she attacked again sucking a mouth full of blood from the wound.
She stood up bringing Herman with her by the nap of his neck..Holding up the contract she sprayed blood over the front page..
Grinning.. Red liquid running down the corners of her mouth. "There!..That will do!"
As Herman fainted away, the clock in the kitchen struck midnight.